One two ounce serving of bacon, (you'll have to ask an aficionado how many slices that is,) provides you with 290 calories, 260 of which are fat calories, 960 mg of sodium, a generous 29 grams of pure fat, a whopping 11 grams of saturated fat and 13% of the daily allowance/requirement for cholesterol. The ratio of fat to protein is nearly six to one.

Why is it sold and consumed in virtually every restaurant, deli and grocery store in the U.S. in this, the 21st century despite the glaring risks to health?

Because one of the great things about America is that we are (generally) free to make the decisions to do whatever we want as long it doesn't infringe on the rights of others. Very little (and certainly not bacon) is truly bad for you when enjoyed in moderation.